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The identity of the deceased is being withheld until family can be notified.

The Lane County Sheriff's Office will lead the death investigation. The medical examiner will determine the cause and manner of death.

The fire was reported at 1:57 p.m. on River Road near Greenleaf Avenue in Eugene. Sheriff's deputies responded along with Eugene Police Department and firefighters.

Fire trucks blocked the northbound lanes of River Road. Traffic is getting through, but motorists are asked to avoid the area.

The cause of the fire is not yet known. Crews are still fighting the fire.

"I heard a lady screaming," neighbor Sean Curran said. "So I came running around the corner, and there was smoke coming out of the house."

Curran said he joined other passersby in running around the house, knocking on the walls, in an attempt to alert anyone still inside.

He said he saw windows broken out and could hear water running in the basement. One of the walls of the house was visibly charred and hot to the touch, he said.

While the Lane County Sheriff's Office and fire officials are still investigating the fire, residents in the area are still shaken up by what happened.

"You kind of act on instict and you don't know how you're going to help and what to do," Curran said. "At the same time you know it's dangerous and you can't run in the house. It's just not good news."